My photography teachers

[My Life is Pink]

This semester I took my first photography class and I was really disappointed with my instructors.

It's a husband and wife team and they do a lot of bickering in class. It's more like little "jabs" that the husband takes at the wife. Also, I'm not sure why two people need to teach one class as it seems to get bogged down.

It took them almost two hours to explain how to do a drop shadow on a duck. I wanted to tell them there was a much easier way to do a drop shadow in photoshop, but I kept my mouth shut.

All in all, I'm not all together sure they really know what they're doing and I'm a little more than uncomfortable in the class as one teacher likes to stand behind me and watch what I'm doing all the time. It's kind of irritating.

Not sure if I should even go back.

[candleman]

do they run the class privately, or through an institution?

i'd probably (at the extremities of actual actions) ask for my money back and leave... through the H.O.D of course.

if they are running the class privately.. it may be harder to leave and get your cash back.
you could still talk to one of them ad say you're not happy with stuff and try get your cash back that way. depends how long you've been going.

all the best with it,


(love your avatar )

[Evn1ngStar]

Since you said "semester" I am assuming it is offered in a school setting, community college course perhaps?

I agree, two teachers (especially if they can't agree amongst themselves) has to add confusion to the class. Did it take two hours to explain because others in the class needed that much coaching or was their explaination just that long winded?

If it were me, I would place my request for a refund with the school office, explaining the pertinent reasons (I'd keep the "watching behind me, it's annoying" to myself) of bickering and lack of the teachers knowledge. That way, if it is non refundable and you decide to follow through, you don't have litte "jabs" aimed at you from the offending party.

That's my two cents, for whatever it is worth.

[dcclark]

Speaking as a teacher, I can't imagine trying to run class with another teacher also teaching in the room... it sounds like they didn't really consider what they were doing. Perhaps this was the first time they taught this class. At any rate, I agree -- asking for a refund (through the school) would be appropriate. That way, you can inform the appropriate departmental folks about their choice of hires. Chances are that these aren't regular faculty, they're probably temporary lecturers (i.e. local photographers who wanted to give teaching photography a try).

[My Life is Pink]

It's a community college Continuing Education course. I think it's too late to ask for a refund, however, I will avoid them in the future. I'd like to try the Nature Photgraphy class in February with a different teacher.

I am going to write an anonymous letter to the CE department to let them know of my experience.

Thanks for all your input!